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<h1>Naw, not even!</h1>

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<li><a href="#part1">Expressing the minimum expectation</a></li>
<li><a href="#part2">Using 「（で）さえ」 to describe the minimum requirement</a></li>
<li><a href="#part3">「（で）すら」 - Same as 「（で）さえ」 but different?</a></li>
<li><a href="#part4">「おろか」 - It's not even worth considering</a></li>
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<h2 id="part1">Expressing the minimum expectation</h2>
In this section, we'll learn various ways to express the minimum expectation. This grammar is not used as often as you might think as there are
many situations where a simpler expression would sound more natural, but you should still become familiar with it.

<h2 id="part2">Using 「（で）さえ」 to describe the minimum requirement</h2>
In English, we might say, "not even close" to show that not even the minimum expectation has been met. In Japanese, we can express this by
attaching 「さえ」 to the object or verb that miserably failed to reach what one would consider as a given. Let's see some examples of this with nouns
first.  You can also use the same grammar in a positive sentence to show that that is all you need to produce a desired effect.

<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>
（１）　宿題が多すぎて、トイレに行く時間<em>さえ</em>なかった。
<br />- There was so much homework, I didn't even have time to go to the bathroom.
</p>

<p>
（２）　お金<em>さえ</em>あれば、何でも出来るよ。
<br />- The least you need is money and you can do anything.
</p>

<p>
（３）　お弁当を買うお金<em>さえ</em>なかった。
<br />- I didn't even have money to buy lunch.
</p>

<p>
For nouns <u>only</u>, you can add 「で」 and use 「でさえ」 instead of just 「さえ」. There are no grammatical differences but it does sound a
bit more emphatic.
</p>

<p>
（４）　私<em>でさえ</em>出来れば、あんたには楽ちんでしょう。
<br />- If even I can do it, it should be a breeze for you.
</p>

<p>You can also attach 「さえ」 to the stem of verbs to express a minimum action for a result. This is usually followed up immediately by 「する」 to
show that the minimum action was done (or not done in the case of negative).</p>

<p>
（５）　ビタミンを<em>食べさえ</em>すれば、健康が保証されますよ。
<br />- If you just eat vitamins, your health will be guaranteed.
</p>

<p>
（６）　自分の過ちを<em>認めさえ</em>しなければ、問題は解決しないよ。
<br />- The problem won't be solved if you don't even recognize your own mistake, you know.
</p>

<div class="sumbox">
<span class="summary">Using 「（で）さえ」 to describe the minimum requirement</span>
<ul class="plain">
<li>For nouns, attach 「さえ」 or 「でさえ」 to the minimum requirement</li>
<li>例）　私<em>さえ</em> - even me</li>
<li>例）　子供<em>でさえ</em> - even children</li>
<li>For verbs, change the verb to the <a href="polite.html#part2"><i>stem</i></a> and attach 「さえ」</li>
<li>例）　食べ<em><strike>る</strike></em> → 食べ<em>さえ</em></li>
<li>例）　行<em>く</em> → 行<em>き</em> → 行き<em>さえ</em></li>
</ul>
</div>


<h2 id="part3">「（で）すら」 - Same as 「（で）さえ」 but different?</h2>
「（で）すら」 is a variation of 「（で）さえ」 that means essentially the same thing and is used in the exact same way. However, it is more obscure and is usually
ignored in favor of 「（で）さえ」. The main reason we are covering it here is because since it's the same as 「（で）さえ」, it's a cinch to go over. Plus, it's covered
in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) level 1 (if you're thinking of taking that).

<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>
（１）　この天才の私<em>ですら</em>わからなかった。
<br />- Even a genius such as myself couldn't solve it.
</p>

<p>
（２）　私は緊張しすぎて、ちらっと見ること<em>すら</em>出来ませんでした。
<br />- I was so nervous that I couldn't even take a quick peek.
</p>

<p>
（３）　「人」の漢字<em>すら</em>知らない生徒は、いないでしょ！
<br />- There are no students that don't even know the 「人」 kanji!
</p>

<div class="sumbox">
<span class="summary">「（で）すら」 is used in exactly the same way as 「（で）さえ」 and means the same thing to boot</span>
<ul class="plain">
<li>For nouns, attach 「すら」 or 「ですら」 to the minimum requirement</li>
<li>例）　私<em>すら</em> - Even me</li>
<li>例）　子供<em>ですら</em> - Even children</li>
<li>For verbs, change the verb to the <a href="polite.html#part2"><i>stem</i></a> and attach 「さえ」</li>
<li>例）　食べ<em><strike>る</strike></em> → 食べ<em>すら</em></li>
<li>例）　行<em>く</em> → 行<em>き</em> → 行き<em>すら</em></li>
<li>However, it is more common to attach the generic noun 「こと」 to the verb and just
treat the whole thing as a regular noun. （ie 食べることすら and 行くことすら）</li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2 id="part4">「おろか」 - It's not even worth considering</h2>
I suspect this grammar comes from the adjective 「愚か」 which means to be foolish or stupid. However, in this case, you're not making fun of something, rather by
using 「おろか」, you can indicate that something is so ridiculous that it's not even worth considering. In English, we might say something
like, "Are you kidding? I can't touch my knees much less do a full split!" In this example, the full split is so beyond the person's abilities that it would
be foolish to even consider it.

<h3>Examples</h3>

<p>
（１）　漢字は<em>おろか</em>、ひらがなさえ読めないよ！
<br />- Forget about kanji, I can't even read hiragana!
</p>

<p>
（２）　結婚は<em>おろか</em>、2ヶ月付き合って、結局別れてしまった。
<br />- We eventually broke up after going out two months much less get married.
</p>

<p>
（３）　大学は<em>おろか</em>、高校すら卒業しなかった。
<br />- I didn't even graduate from high school much less college.
</p>

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